THE SECOND DIVISION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12059, 14 July 1917, Page 9

THE SECOND DIVISION.

DILATORY RESERVISTS. Up to the present there has been no great rush in Christchurch of Second Division reservists to secure forms by which they can give the latest particulars of their families to the Government Statistician, so that when tlio ballots for the Second Division men are made each reservist will ba in his proper class. This alootness oil the part of the men may be due to a belief that the Second Division will not be called upon, or to ignorance of tlio regulation that notification of increases or losses in a reservist's family must bo forwarded by Saturday next:. It, is to the interests of the reservists concerned to forward the required particulars, otherwise the men may l>e balloted for earlier than they need be. ' When inteviewed to-day by a " Star*' ♦ representative, Mr J, G. lluie, assist, ant-chief postmaster, said that since Wednesday last, when the forms wero availably tlio applications had averaged about fifty each day. '1 hat seemed its if the men concerned were mainly unconcerned. Moreover, a lair proportion of tho callers had not yet obtained their certificates of enrolment, although these had all been waiting at the post offices nominated by the men when filling in the national registration forms. The new form could not bo tilled in -sufficiently unless the enrolment certificate! wa-s in tlio posession of the reservist. In Christchurch there wero still 2000 to 3000 enrolment certificates awaiting claimants. Notices had been, sent to these dilatory reservists to claim the certificates within eight days, after whith period they wilt be returned to Wellington. Arrangements havo been made so that throughout next week the certificates and the new forms ean be obtained at; the Chief Post Office from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last date- for the dispute!) of the forma is Saturdiv next, and it is hoped that, the rcservi.-'to who have had alterations in the families since the national register was takoii will call at the Post! ' Gffioe and fill- in tho necessary particulars. TO THE EDITOR. . ' Sir, —Now that the time is geriing near for the Second Division men t(\be called up, 1 would like ■ to protect against the Government stopping vol-V- 1 untury enlistments. I mysef, as a \ married man with a family, will i.e> glad, \ to do my bit alongside the bravt facis who have been fighting for me fdi the last three years. But under the iresent law 1 cannot go until my.the. , comes, which will mean nearly the las.. I am sum that there are thousands in New Zealand lilco myself who would not go while single men were in plenty, but would enlist with tho first, lot or th 0 Second Division. I have just heard it rumoured that there will be fcroublo when the Second Division men nr« called up. All I can say is God .. help those poor cold-footed men,; and this is why voluntary enlistments should be allowed. Hoping press this point home to tho Government a:- l thatiking you for publishing this letter.—l am, etc., SECOND DIVISION.